Abacus: Small Enough to Jail

2018 Best Documentary Oscar Nominee

From acclaimed director Steve James (The Interrupters), Academy Award-nominated (Best Documentary Feature, 2018) ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL tells the saga of the Chinese immigrant Sung family, owners of Abacus Federal Savings of Chinatown, New York.

Accused of mortgage fraud by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., Abacus becomes the only bank prosecuted after the 2008 financial crisis. The indictment and subsequent trial forces the Sung family to defend themselves - and their bank's legacy in the Chinatown community - over the course of a five-year legal battle.

Official Selection at the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival.

"One of the great documentaries of recent years." - David Poland, Movie City News

"Both an affirmation and an indictment of the American dream." - Stephan Dalton, The Hollywood Reporter

Comments (3)

You can still get justice in America, but it will cost you 10 million dollars...

John

University of North Carolina Wilmington•5 months ago

A true David and Goliath Story. Nice to see justice served for once.

Olivia

Kanopy Staff•5 months ago

It’s hard not to feel desperately sorry for this sweet Chinese-American family as they spend 5 years defending their business and their associated reputation in court. Of course it’s more than a business or legal story...there are questions raised that are hard to answer around the role race ...Read more

It’s hard not to feel desperately sorry for this sweet Chinese-American family as they spend 5 years defending their business and their associated reputation in court. Of course it’s more than a business or legal story...there are questions raised that are hard to answer around the role race played in the case, as well as if there were other motivations behind the DA’s decision to prosecute.
Excited to see how it goes in the Oscars.

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